Lance lurked among the bushes, observing a dilapidated camp ahead—it didn’t even have a fence. Most of it consisted of old, ruined buildings, supplented by tents patched together from branches and tattered cloth.
Despite this, an unusual bustle filled the camp. Quite a few refugees could be seen actively training and chanting doctrines. These refugees didn’t appear coerced; in fact, they seed quite happy, their attitude even more enthusiastic than that of his own Serfs.
The most striking feature of the camp was two individuals standing atop it. They were bare-chested, displaying sturdy muscles, and wielded claw-shaped weapons.
At first glance, Lance identified the enemy. There was no mistaking it: only Ascension Cultists would be in such a place and dressed this way, though it wasn’t clear if they had been implanted with the "Seed".
It was apparent this was a camp where the Ascension Sect gathered and trained newcors. A portion of the refugees who had flooded into the northern Empire seed to have fallen into the Old Ancestor’s hands. Otherwise, after giving a batch to a witch, none would have been left here for this purpose.
If such places were prevalent throughout his territory, he couldn’t even imagine how many refugees the Old Ancestor had gathered by now.
Damn it! So I’m the one stuck with the fallout from the Empire’s bungled disaster relief. Trying to make things harder for , are they? Just don’t let ever cross paths with that Emperor...
Lance observed for a mont, then quickly reined in his scattered thoughts, having noticed a strange phenonon.
Everyone in the camp was a young adult, male or female; no elderly or children were in sight. Their physical condition didn’t suggest prolonged hunger. On the contrary, their complexions were unnaturally healthy, even a bit too excited. If not for their conspicuous clothing, they would have been hard to recognize.
Once he completed his reconnaissance, Lance retreated to his squad to relay the situation.
"A camp of about two hundred people, likely a training ground for the Ascension Sect’s new recruits, built upon so old brick and stone structures left here..."
Lance took a twig and began to roughly sketch the layout on the ground.
After killing Ghouls and destroying catacombs, Lance continued his mission. His direction was clear: head north to lay the groundwork for a future northern campaign.
Along the way, he also disciplined and trained Wang Cai. With Fergus’s demonstrations, Wang Cai quickly grasped the basics. His Spiritual Essence was easily comparable to that of a six or seven-year-old child.
With their two powerful senses of sll as a foundation, the squad’s reconnaissance range expanded dramatically.
This ti, they detected the scent of humans three kiloters ahead. After tracking it for one kiloter, they discovered the camp. Lance scouted ahead alone to verify the situation, which led to the present circumstances.
Soon, the camp’s details were explained. Everyone knew action was inevitable, though so specifics still needed to be determined.
Thus, their gazes unconsciously fell upon Lance, awaiting their Lord’s decision.
"Those people have been brainwashed into joining the Ascension Sect; there’s no possibility of saving them," Lance stated calmly, effectively passing a death sentence upon them.
The others seed to already know their Lord’s choice and didn’t react much. Having witnessed the Ascension Sect’s thods, they understood that those who succumbed to an evil cult could no longer be considered human.
"Are we gonna get started now?" Boudica stretched her limbs, seemingly eager for the upcoming battle.
But Lance shook his head, instantly quashing her enthusiasm with a single statent.
"No, now is not the ti."
"Why not?"
"There are over two hundred people here, and we are only four—six including Fergus and Wang Cai. Rushing in recklessly is not an option. Even if they were two hundred pigs, we couldn’t round them all up in half a day. Conversely, if they scatter, the threat to us will be even greater. Therefore, we must strike precisely and annihilate them in a single blow."
"I’ll stay here with Wang Cai to keep an eye on them. The rest of you go back and bring two hundred soldiers." Lance estimated the ti, continuing to draw with the stick. "Take this route. It’s a day’s forced march. Stop here to rest, and then I’ll co find you..."
Lance briefly explained the situation and made arrangents. Then, pointing the twig at the camp, he said in a grave voice, "I will annihilate these Heretics completely and show them who the true master of Hamlet is!"
"Yes!" The others had no objections, as they were aware of the danger these individuals posed.
After the rest of the squad departed, Lance, accompanied by Wang Cai, crept closer to continue their surveillance.
He hadn’t ntioned another crucial point: maintaining a camp of a hundred people requires a substantial amount of daily supplies—a figure not to be underestimated.
He had seen no nearby cultivated fields, suggesting the camp’s supplies were transported from elsewhere. If they lay in wait, they might get lucky and discover another resource point.
A successful stakeout is a guaranteed profit. More than just a barracks, Lance was interested in the possibility of striking one of the Ascension Sect’s resource points.
Developnt required resources, a principle even the Old Ancestor couldn’t defy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have drained his entire territory dry to complete his plan.
Now, Lance also needed more resources for his own grand plan. The spoils from raiding the club in Ovando City had provided the funds for his expenses in Totnes, not to ntion his acquisition of the Ascension Potion formula.
At the ritual site above an unnad village, the stench of blood lingered. Scattered bones, picked clean and broken by animals, lay in disarray.
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